Market Square going green

People attend a Labor Day weekend celebration at Market Square in 2007. EXPRESS-NEWS FILE PHOTO

About a month ago, Market Square received a trash compactor for recycled materials for shop owners to use.

“All of the products that get delivered here either come in boxes or are wrapped in newspaper,” said Paula Stallcup, director of downtown operations. “When you think of all of the almost 100 merchants we have at Market Square, that’s a lot of cardboard and newspaper that can be recycled.”

The compactor, located by Commerce Street between Museo Alameda and the El Mercado building, was paid for using a $32,000 portion of an Alamo Area Council of Governments grant to the city.

In addition to the compactor, Market Square will be receiving five recycle containers for use by Market Square visitors. They weren’t received in time for last weekend’s Fourth of July celebration, but might be in by the end of July.